CAUSE, among physicians. The cause of a disease is defined by Galen to be that during the presence of which we are ill, and which being removed the disorder immediately ceases. The doctrine of the causes of diseases is called ETIOLOGY.
Physicians divide causes into procatarctic, antecedent, and continent.
Procatarctic Cause, αἰτία προκαταρκτική, called also primitive and incipient cause, is either an occasion which of its own nature does not beget a disease, but, happening on a body inclined to diseases, breeds a fever, gout, &c. (such as are watching, fasting, and the like); or an evident and manifest cause, which immediately produces the disease, as being sufficient thereto, such as is a sword in respect of a wound.
Antecedent Cause, αἰτία προηγούμενη, a latent disposition of the body, from whence some disease may arise; such as a plethora in respect of a fever, a cachymia in respect of a scurvy.
Continent, Conjunct, or Proximate Cause, that principle in the body, which immediately adheres to the disease, and which being present, the disease is also present; or, which being removed, the disease is taken away: such is the stone in a nephritic patient.